The Various Shades of Stress

Creating awareness about the increasing levels of stress was something we at The Lifestyle Portal had always thought about. This prompted us to talk to some of the top mental health professionals, health experts, counsellors in the country and know what their views are about the increasing levels of stress in our lives today.

Here’s our latest interview on stress with Kashish Chhabria, a counselling psychologist, psychotherapist, motivational speaker and a woman and youth empowerment coach. She talks to The Lifestyle Portal on the various facets of stress and how to deal with it.

There are various shades of stress…learn to identify it

Defining stress

According to Kashish, anything that is not in alignment with your core values and beliefs and makes you feel uncomfortable and anxious can be termed as stress. Talking about good stress and bad stress, Kashish says, “Anything that challenges your personal and professional limits for growth is good stress. Bad stress is when you have to compromise on your core values.”

The issue

“People are not fully aware of stress. If they were, then definitely they would be able to modify their attitude and approach towards it.If you ignore the symptoms of stress now, you suffer more lately physically, mentally and monetarily too,” adds Kashish.

Previous generations v/s us

Kashish believes, “There are some factors such as unhealthy competition, increased materialistic aspirations, need for acquiring too much in lesser time at a younger age, etc. which weren’t present in the generations before. It is now important for people to become emotionally intelligent too.”

Symptoms of stress

The most prominent symptoms of stress according to Kashish are-

Isolation, loneliness, changes in food and sleeping habits and a decrease in self-grooming.

Causes and effects of stress

According to Kashish, “Emotionally sensitive people are most stressed according to me.

Immaturity, the environment, lack of social skills and adaptability, unmet psychological needs, bitter past experiences etc. can all lead to stress. Too much of importance to a particular subject can alsotrigger undue pressure and stress,” says Kashish.

She further adds on, “Neurological disorders, low self-esteem, social awkwardness, lack of confidence are some of the long-term effects stress can give birth to. Our immune system weakens with prolonged stress effects leading to undesirable outcomes physically. Emotionally there is a disconnect between the surroundings and people around us. Mentally it can be draining for anyone to be in that situation for too long.”

No good decisions were ever taken under stress…take a walk & clear your head

Tips for managing stress

“Whenever you feel stressed just remember your mind needs relaxation. No good decisions were ever taken under stress. To take a great decision your mind has to be relaxed.

Take a walk, meditate, dance, read, take a holiday, listen to music, talk to a therapist or even play with a furry friend,” suggests Kashish.

Prevention is better than cure

One can prevent stress simply by adopting the motto of learning to let go. Understand that people are different and have different response mechanisms. Your perception is not the universal perception,” says Kashish.

Helping someone deal with stress

“We as a family member or as a friend ought to be there when someone close to us needs us. We have to pick up the verbal and non-verbal cues and be by their side by listening to them whenever the need be,” explains Kashish.

Kashish signs off by giving the message, “You are much higher than your challenges. Beat the stress and remember only you can decide your failures and victories…not anyone else.”

Kashish Chhabria is a counselling psychologist, psychotherapist, motivational speaker and a woman and youth empowerment coach.

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